To My Other W. W.

Did you guys ever watch Breaking Bad? I watched it a while ago (probably around 8^th grade), and it is still one of the only TV shows that I have ever finished. Obviously, I think it is a great show. The story is fascinating, and the characters are engaging. I think the thrill of the show comes from the decisions that are made. While this might sound generic, since the suspense for many movies and shows comes from making decisions, I think the unique context provided by the show allows for a new category of decisions, which, before watching the show, had probably never crossed the minds of the viewers.

I think the new category of decisions provides a reaction that is similar to hearing about the trolley problem for the first time. It is a very interesting concept to think about, and one can go over the different options multiple times. The difference is that the characters in the show always seem to find a bizarre way around their problems. The main character, Walter White, often finds ways to weasel himself out of situations by making deals or something of that sort. His lies become incredibly elaborate, and it almost becomes difficult to keep track of who knows what version of each story. At first, his frequent deals seemed to work rather well. Later on, he finds that the best way to keep people quiet is the permanent way.

With good actors and an intriguing story, it is very easy for viewers to feel as though they are a part of all of the action and deception. The new category of decisions that arises is due to the fact that the decisions that are made in the show are from the perspective of a high school chemistry teacher who, as it turns out, is in the process of establishing a drug empire. These decisions include cooking meth, lying to his wife, laundering money, killing people, poisoning a child, and robbing a train. Many decisions like these are made, and it always seems like when he is given a choice between two options, he manages to make a third. I think this is why the show was found to be thrilling by so many people. There was a whole new realm of options and decisions that hadn’t been explored yet. It is not everyday that one can be inside the mind of someone like Walter White.

His lies allowed his manipulative tentacles to have control over his family and business partners. He definitely has what one would call a “silver tongue.” As the show develops the characters, including his partner, who was an old chemistry student, and his brother in law, who is in the DEA, a complex network of relationships is formed. This complex network is always changing, due to factors that add people, connect people, and remove people. Walter’s wife eventually gets introduced into this network, and this leads to many complications regarding family life and work life.

Anyway, it’s a great show.

Cheers,

Adrian